Quantity-indicating device for liquids



Ap 2, 1929. E. R. POWELL QUANTITY mmcume nsvrcs FOR mourns Filed Oct. 9, 1922 Patented Apr. 2, 1929.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD R. POWELL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR 'IO JAMES MACCALLUH, m, 013 ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

QUANTITY-INDICATING DEVICE FOR LIQUIDS.

Application filed October 9, 1922. Serial No. 598,842.

My invention relates to improvements in quantity indicating devices for liquids, and has for its primary object the automatic maintenance of a constant working head or volume of pressure carrying medium within thepressure chamber andline 01 a quantity indicating device.

A further object is to maintain a constant Working heador pressure carrying medium within the pressure chamber and line of a quantity indicating device by employing a chemical or other substance which will liberate or generate a gas when coming in contact with the liquid being measured, and deliver said gas into the pressure chamber and line. 7

.A further object is to place in a container which communicates with the pressure chamber or line of a quantit-y indicating device, a chemical, or other substance, either solid or liquid which will liberate or generate a gas when coming in contact with the liquid'being measured, and so construct and locate said container that whenthevolume of pressure carrying medium or working head in the pressure chamber varies, moisture will come in contact with the chemical or substance and generate or liberate a sufli cient amount of gas or pressure carrying medium to restore the working head or volume of pressure carrying medium within the pressure chamber and line. This restoration also automatically prevents any more moisture from reaching said chemical or substance and generating or liberating gas in excess of the amount required.

In the drawings,

F i 1 is a fragmental vertical sectionof a liqui container, showing my improveddevice in position therein.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the generating container employed.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the bottom of the pressure chamber with the generator container attached thereto.

Fig. 4 is line Jr-4 of Fig. 1 with the cartridge removed.

' Fig. 5 is a modified form of construction wherein the generator container is placed below the pressure chamber.

Fig. 6 is amodified form wherein a separate chamber is made use of for holding the generator container, and showing the an enlarged section taken on the manner of establishing communication with the pressure chamber directly.

In carrying out my invention I employ a liquid container 7 which is provided in its upper face or top with an openin 8 which is surrounded by a screw threade flange '9. ()n th1s flange rests a plate 10, which plate 1s secured to the flange 9 by ascrew threaded ring 11. Extending through the plate 10 and secured thereto against accidental movement is a pressure pipe or line 12, having a reduced portion 13 located without the container. This reduced portion is connected to an indicating gage 14, which is preferably of the pressure indicating type. To the lower end of the pipe 12 is secured a pressure chamber 15 which is in communication with the pipe 12. The lower edge of the pressure chamber 15 is provided with indentations 16. These indentations extend vertically and for a short distance above the lower edge, and are designed to form in connection with the cap 17, passage ways 18. These passage ways permit the entrance of liquid from the container to theinside of the cap, and also the escape of any excess of ressure carrying medium. The pressure chamber 15 is provided with a bottom 19 which is secured to the cap 17 by means of a rivet 20.

.The cap and bottom are spaced apart by a sleeve 21 which surrounds the rivet.

It will be. noted from Fig. 4 that the bottom is preferably circular and of such diameter as to contact with the indentations 16, thus leaving a space 22 which forms a passage so that the liquid can act on the pressure carrying medium within the pressure chamber 15. Secured to the bottom 19 are spring clips 23 which hold a generator container. This container is preferably of the cartridge type, and is provided with solid 95 ends 24. Between these ends 24 is a casing 25 which. is constructed preferably of fine mesh wire gauze, although any other material which is pervious to moisture and gas may be employed, and within this is placed a gas generating substance 26, such asmetallic sodium, ammonium carbonate, or other substances which. give. OK when coming in contact with water in tfi liquid, it being a. well known fact that all commercial m'otor fuel such as gasoline contains ,a certain percentage of water.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified forrnof wii jccting neck 32. This neck projects through the bottom 28 and into the pressure chamber. The neck 32 is also provided with a circumferential bead 33. This bead limits the depth of insertion of the neck within the container, and also gives the cap 30 its proper spacing from the bottom of the container. The container 31 may be either filled with a solid substance or with a liquid in the container which will generate gas when coming in contactwith water, and in the event that a-liquid is used,'batlles 34; are placed in the neck so as to prevent the liquid from splashin out.

Tn Fig. 61 have shown still another form in which 35 represents the pressure chamber which has a reticulated bottom 36. This bottom is secured within the chamber 35. The chamber 35 is also provided with a cap 37. Thiscap is similar in construction and location to the caps 17 and 30. Communicating with the pressure chamber 35 is a second chamber 38, these two chambers together forminga submerged enclosure. This chamber 38'has secured on its inside, spring clips 39 which are designed to hold the generator container 40. This container is preferably of the sameconstruction as the container described in F 1g. 2. The chamber 38 is provided with a removable apertured bottom 41. It is preferable to have only a few apertures in the bottom so that liquid cannot splash into the chamber 38. The chamber 38 may be connected to the chamber 35 by means of a conduit or gas passage 42.

a The operation of my device is as follows:

After the generator container has been placed in proper position, the device is in sci-ted into a liquid container so that the pressure chamber will be near the bottom thereof. The liquid in the container passes through the passage ways formed between the container and cap, and exerts an upward pressure. Thus pressure is set up within the pressure chamber and pressure line, and is communicated to the indicatmg gage which will ind cate the quantity of liquid contained "within the container. As long as the volume of pressure carrying medium within the 1 pressure chamber and line remains constant,

the working headwill be constant, and the gage register accurately. If any of this inedium is lost through any cause whatsoever,

the workings-head is changed, and conseis given off, whichigas replaces the liquid which has risen in the pressure chamber and thus restores the working level or head.

In Fig. 6 the chambers 35 and 38 are so arranged as to have the liquid rise to the same height in each chamber simultaneously, and comes in contact withthe gas generating substance contained in the chamber 38. This substance then gives off a gas, which gas flows through the conduit 42 into the chamber 35 and equalizes pressure in both chambers, replacing the liquid which has risen in the chambers by-a gasand restoringthe normal working level or head. i

I do not desire to limit myself to'any of the precise constructions shown, as'there may be various other structures by which I can accomplish my purpose, namely that of maintaining a constant working head within the pressure chamber and line in communication therewith by means of a substance which gives off gas.

' Having fully described my invention, what lfclaimis: g

1. In a quantity indicatingdevice for liquids a liquid container, a pressure chamber located in said container and communicating with'the liquid at the full depth to be measured, an indicating gauge, a pipe connection bet veen saidgauge and pressure chamber, a reticulated container located in the pressure chambena substancelocated in said reticuiated container and adapted togenerate gas when contacted with by water in the liquid in the liquid container, the gas so generated being released in the pressure chamber and pipe connection, whereby a constant volume of pressure transmitting medium is maintainedinsaid pressure chamber and pipe connection. r r

2. A liquid quantity indicator comprisin a pressure chamber adapted to be placer within and adjacent the bottom of a liquid container, a pipe communicating with the interior of said pressure chamber, said pipe extending outside the liquid container and having indicating gauge attached thereto, a perforate container within said pressure chamber, means for securing said perforate container in position, a gas generating substance located' in said container, said substance adapted to generate a gas when contacted with by water inthe liquid in the container, said gas being liberated in the located in said perforate container and adapted to generate a gas when contacted 15 with by water in the liquid in the container, said gas being liberated in the enclosure for maintaining a constant volume of pressure transmitting medium in said enclosure and line, said gas so enerat'ed also serving to 20 sever the contact etween the liquid in the enclosure and the gas generating-substance.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. a

' EDWARD R. POWELL, 

